Category: Tsunami

Strong Quake Shakes Indonesia’s Capital; No Tsunami Alert

JAKARTA, Indonesia—A powerful earthquake shook parts of Indonesia’s main island of Java on Friday, damaging buildings and houses and sending people into the streets, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Officials said there was no danger of a tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.6 quake was located in the Indian…


Indonesia Lifts Tsunami Alert After Powerful Undersea Quake

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesia lifted a tsunami alert Tuesday following a magnitude 7.3 undersea earthquake that struck off Flores Island, triggering panic in a region prone to fatal quakes but apparently causing no major damage or casualties. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake hit at a depth of 18.5 kilometers (11.5 miles) under the sea,…


More Than 30 Injured After 5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Tokyo

Dozens of people have been left injured after a powerful magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Tokyo on Thursday evening. The earthquake—the largest Japan has seen since 2011—occurred at 10:41 p.m. local time and damaged underground water pipes, derailed passenger trains, and caused fires in at least one home, according to The Japan Times. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said the quake was…


Earthquake of Magnitude 7.2 Near Vanuatu, No Tsunami Warning

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck near the Vanuatu islands in the South Pacific on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. No tsunami warning was issued due to the depth of the quake, said the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii. The quake, which was upgraded from a preliminary magnitude of 6.7, was…


6.9 Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska, No Tsunami Warning Issued

PERRYVILLE, Alaska—A 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of the Alaska Peninsula early Saturday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It was located at a depth of about 21 miles (33 kilometers). Despite the size of the quake, no tsunami warnings were issued. The closest place to the epicenter was Perryville, home to a little…


Largest US Quake in Half-Century Causes Alaska Little Damage

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—The largest earthquake in the United States in the last half century produced a lot of shaking but spared Alaska any major damage in a sparsely populated region, officials said Thursday. The magnitude 8.2 earthquake was reported about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, and it struck just south of the Alaska Peninsula, nearly 500 miles southwest…


Strong Alaska Quake Produces Prolonged Shaking, Small Tsunami

PERRYVILLE, Alaska—A powerful earthquake which struck just off Alaska’s southern coast caused prolonged shaking and prompted tsunami warnings that sent people scrambling for shelters. Residents reported only minor damage, but officials said that could change after sunrise and people get a better look. The National Tsunami Warning Center canceled the warnings early Thursday when the…


Indonesians Rush Uphill After 6.1 Magnitude Quake Near Moluccas

JAKARTA—Hundreds of people near Indonesia’s Moluccas islands rushed to higher ground on Wednesday after an earthquake of magnitude 6.1, fearing aftershocks and a possible tsunami. The quake struck at a depth of 19 km (11 miles). There were no immediate reports of casualties. Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) urged people in a text message…


Coastal City Launches New Emergency Alert System

A new outdoor emergency system to alert residents of disasters was put to the test May 27 in Laguna Beach, Calif. “Nothing presents a greater risk to our public safety than a wildfire or a major earthquake,” Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said in a press release. “This outdoor emergency warning system will save lives in the event of…


Little Damage From Huge Pacific Quake; Tsunami Threat Passes

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—One of the strongest earthquakes to hit the South Pacific in modern history triggered tsunami warnings across the ocean and forced thousands of people in New Zealand to evacuate coastal areas Friday. Small tsunami waves were seen, but little damage was apparent hours later. The magnitude 8.1 quake in the Kermadec Islands region…